A controversial extraordinary general assembly meeting (EGAM) today unanimously elected William Mawan anak Ikom, 52, (pic) as the new president of the crisis-ridden Sarawak National Party (Snap), replacing the aging James Wong Kim Min, 80.
And with this and until the Registrar of Societies (ROS) intervenes on or after Sept 2, this troubled component of the state's four-member ruling coalition is now seen in the same light as its Sabah counterpart Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) a party with two presidents, two sets of party administrations and two party headquarters.
Today's meeting held at Regency Rajah Court Hotel on the outskirts of Kuching was attended by 124 out of 177 delegates from more than two-third of the party's 62 divisions throughout Sarawak.
Mawan, previously one of Snap vice-presidents, is the state assemblyperson for Pakan and the state minister for environment and public health. He was elevated to a full minister after last year's state elections, taking over from Wong who did not seek re-election.
Peter Tinggom, 78, a former deputy federal minister and presently the member of parliament for Saratok, was today persuaded by the new president to stay on until the next triennial general meeting (TGM), expected in seven weeks' time, as deputy president.
Nansian is senior veep
The EGAM also unanimously elected one of Snap vice-presidents Peter Nansian, an accountant by training and the state assemblyperson for Tasik Biru, as senior vice president replacing Richard Wong.
Immediately after his election as president, Mawan, in consultation with national council members present, announced the appointment of Dr Judson Sakai Tagal, the assemblyman for Ba'Kelalan and assistant minister of infrastructure development and communications, as the new secretary-general replacing Justine Jinggut.
Judson, a Lun Bawang (of the Orang Ulu community)and a successful private medical practitioner in Miri before he entered active politics, was appointed acting secretary-general at the national council meeting called by his own group on June 23 after censure motions were unanimously adopted against Wong, senior vice president , the state assemblyperson for Limbang and Wong's eldest son Richard Wong, Justine and deputy secretary-general Edmund Stanley Juggol, who is a political secretary to the Chief Minister.
Mawan also announced the appointments of Iban businessman Paul Igai as deputy secretary-general replacing Juggol, and a Chinese businessman Fong Siaw Chin as assistant secretary-general.
He brought the highly-controversial member of parliament for Bintulu Tiong King Sing back into Snap as treasurer-general, a post the latter held for one term in 1999 before Wong removed him and eventually also sacked him from Snap. The June 23 national council nullified Wong's decision taken earlier at a central executive committee meeting in sacking Tiong.
Appointed assistant treasurer-general is Dennis Sung. A former bank officer Jasmie Sadang was appointed financial officer. Peter Howell Jilan was appointed the party's new publicity officer.
Vice-presidents retained
Mawan also appointed five additional members to the party's central executive committee — federal deputy minister of family affairs and social development Dr Tiki Lafe (whom Wong removed as CEC member after serving only for a term), Women section leader Winnie Jolly, who is also wife of Snap vice president and member of parliament for Baram Jacob Dungau Sagan, businessman Paul Igai, businessman Simon Ong and Jelaing Mersat, a former senior education officer who is now a political secretary to the chief minister.
All existing vice presidents have been retained in their positions Senator William Lau, the member of parliament for Baram Jacob Dungau Sagan, assistant minister of tourism and the state assemblyperson for Krian Peter Nyarok and the state assemblyperson for Marudi Sylvester Entrie.
The EGAM also approved a motion to bring the party's triennial general meeting (TGM), originally scheduled in February next year, forward to an earlier date and to let the central executive committee fix the date. Mawan later said this would be held in seven weeks' time.
One delegate who moved the motion said this was to enable the party more time to prepare for parliamentary elections expected to be held in the near future.
In his acceptance speech and later at a media conference, the new president said with the mandate given by delegates at today's EGAM the new party leaders could now move on one step further to resolve the problems facing the party.
He described the new leadership line-up pending the TGM to be held in seven weeks' time as "a temporary measure to address the current crisis in Snap."
He added that the new leaders would act firmly against anyone trying to perpetuate what he described as any obstructive process with the mandate that the EGAM delegates had given to them.
No more cock-fight joke
"This is just the very beginning. At least the circumstances are being consolidated. I don't think they (the Wong faction) can joke about it all the time and say we are not constitutional, to the extent that this is a cock-fight," Mawan said.
Mawan said as far as his side is concerned they have taken all steps to follow the constitutional process in resolving the problems within SNAP and to comply with the requirements of the Registrar of Societies.
He said in spite of all that has happened "I still have a lot of respect for James Wong" whom he described as his close political ally and personal friend for many years.
"But it does not mean we can sacrifice the interests of party members because of personal relationship," he said, pointing out the problem is not Wong but a few people around him trying to perpetuate their own interests.
During the EGAM, the delegates and observers booed when the names of several Snap leaders aligned to Wong were mentioned. The loudest heard was that against Justine.
But Mawan said he and his group would not waste time going on a witch-hunt. "We want to get our priorities now in their right perspectives," he added.
According to him, the Snap party headquarters in Rubber Road "is very messy and the record books are not straight".
Operating from new location
Mawan, in response to a question, said at this point of time it was not important whether Wong and his group would vacate the party headquarters. But after what happened today, he hoped they would gracefully give way.
"But if it is a must we can always look for a new and more strategic location for our party headquarters," he said, an indication that the party could very well not be having only two presidents but also two party administrations and two party headquarters to work from.
Malaysiakini understands that the Mawan group has already been operating from another location which is likely to be their new party headquarters in Kuching. All divisions, delegates and party members have been advised to send their correspondence to the new address.
Meanwhile, speaking in his capacity as the newly-appointed secretary-general Judson said his group had already replied to the query from the Registrar of Societies, outlining in the comprehensive report an account of the steps being taken to resolve the crisis in Snap.
Mawan said that although the ROS had given the two sides in the conflict up to Sept 2 to resolve their differences, failing which he would intervene and make a decision, his group had taken every possible steps to comply with the requirement.
"I'm sure if we require a few more days after that the ROS would accommodate us," he added.
TONY THIEN is malaysiakini correspondent in Kuching.